Downey arrived at current club Northampton following spells at Calvisano, Munster, Connacht and Leinster and has since become a key player in the Saints' midfield.

A no-nonsense tackler and industrious in the loose, he tasted Super 10 glory during his stint in Italy and shared in the Saints' European Challenge Cup success in 2009 and their Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph in 2010.

He was also part of the Irish Wolfhounds squad that captured the Churchill Cup crown in 2009.